Are you unhappy with your current physical appearance? Does that insecurity keep you from having the confidence to pursue a relationship with someone that you are interested in? If so, it is not something that you need to live with. You can make changes to your lifestyle so that you can get the figure that you want and gain that confidence to approach that special someone and ask them out. In fact, if you are ready to make that change there are several things that you can do to change your life before our next president even takes the oval office. As President Elect Obama said, “It’s time for a change.”

For you step one is to simply get you up and out of that sedentary lifestyle. The key is to get your metabolism going as quickly as possible. To do this, wake up just 10 minutes early and take a brisk walk around your home two to three times.

Step two is for you to do what your mother always told you. Eat your breakfast. After much research, most doctors agree that breakfast really is the most important way to start your day. By eating breakfast, you give your body permission to begin to burn those calories. This means that all morning long, your body is working to process those nutrients so that you’ll have additional energy from the start all the way to the end of the day.

You’ve heard the old saying you are what you eat. Well, what would that make you? Most people would be giant soda cans or giant bags of chips. If this is true for you then you must make an immediate shift in your diet. Stuffing your face with Oreos and cinnamon rolls while sipping on a Diet Coke is not healthy eating. A proper diet has many fruits and vegetables as a primary staple of life.

Put away your coffee mugs and break open a case of bottled water. You may not know it but caffeinated drinks like coffee or soda actually rob your body of the nutrients it needs to look and feel great. The point here is simple, give up the crap you put into your body and call it food. Next, eat food that is alive and not processed.

Here’s a simple secret for you. For weight loss to be effective, you must loose more pounds than you gain. Yes, I know you would’ve sat in the cold on a stormy winter morning for that tidbit of information. While it sounds simple, it is actually very profound. By controlling your portions and monitoring your caloric intake, you can assure yourself that you are burning more calories and fat than you are adding to your waistline.

Eat early and eat often. This may be counter intuitive but it actually does work. Try it and you’ll discover that if you watch what you eat and how much of it you eat, that if you were to munch on smaller portions throughout the day rather than having only 3 large meals a day, that you would rarely feel hungry and your metabolism will shoot through the roof.

Write down what you are eating. It’s easy to forget what you have been putting into your mouth, but by writing it down you will give yourself an accurate view of what you are eating. This provides you with some accountability and knowledge as to what you are including in your diet.

Last but not least is the motivation factor. While eating the right foods at the right times and exercising are all very important things, none of those things are possible without proper motivation and support. Forget trying to do it on your own. If you could have done it, you would have by now. The best thing to do is to find a running buddy. Someone whom you can confide in and someone you can trust that will not let you give up. You two can support one another as you press forward toward creating the body you deserve by inauguration day.

How do they do it? You know those suburban housewives who have the kids in tow who look better than you managed to look in your early twenties. Their hair is perfect, their clothes are impeccable, and perhaps the most enviable detail their figures are flawless. These ladies have the same stresses that you have, but they have managed to find a way to keep their bodies in top-notch shape. The good news is that you are about to find out the secrets to how these real life housewives keep themselves in glamorous Hollywood starlet form. We have been able to sit down with Mrs. Lajoie, a real life desperate housewife.

As we sit down I cannot help but be struck by how stunning Mrs. Lajoie is. She is wearing a stylish sweat suit that you would expect to see a mother of three sporting, but her body does not show the signs of having had three kids. In fact, I’m struck by how toned and fit she looks for a mom of a toddler. My first question for her is how does she do it?

“I am always on the go, on the move,” she responded. She went on to explain that she walks on her treadmill every day and utilizes the incline feature most often. “One of the best things I like to do is to take advantage of the neighborhood sidewalks with my toddler’s stroller. Not only am I getting a good workout with the added weight of pushing my child, but I am also spending quality time with my child and I am getting out of the house. This really jump starts my fat burning capabilities.” With all that walking Mrs. Lajoie notices that her legs are toned and strong, which is important when chasing behind a toddler.

At this point Mrs. Lajoie receives a phone call from her husband. She talks for a few moments and hangs up the phone. She smiles. I cannot help but take notice of how happy she seems after years of marriage. “You seem like a newlywed,” I said, “is your husband supportive of your personal time?” Mrs. Lajoie laughs a little before answering. “Well, of course. Let’s be honest. Men are naturally visually stimulated creatures, so he loves that I look good. However, it is much more than just that. He loves the confidence that I exude because I take care of myself. My confidence makes me feel more beautiful, making me more beautiful to him. Don’t misunderstand me, there are times when we both get busy and it becomes hard to juggle everything at once, especially the kids; but they are our life and we both want to be good role models for them, in terms of behavior and health. So we try to do lots of physical activities as a family. We like going to the park, playing sports, and going on bike rides.” I must ask this question, “Has it always been like this?” Mrs. Lajoie takes a minute to think and then continues. She speaks quietly and carefully. “Well, no. For a long time I fell into a rut that probably most women face. I gained weight. I wasn’t happy with myself, and my husband wasn’t happy either. It got bad for a while. It got so bad that I thought he was going to leave me, and it was then that I knew that I had to do something to take control of my life and save my marriage.”

“How do you stay focused with the chaos of running a household?” I ask. “Really, yoga has saved my life. It is a great way to tone your muscles, but it is so much more than that. I find that it really calms me down, and keeps me centered throughout my week.” She admits that finding time is a challenge for any mother, but it has to be a priority. If you take some time out for yourself, it will really benefit your family in the long run. “I need some me time to recharge my batteries.” she says. “If I get that then I find that my tolerance and enthusiasm is better, which is more the mom and wife that I want to be. Though sometimes it may feel like I’m being selfish I have to remember that by taking this time for myself I’m really doing something that will help me to be a better me.”

Mrs. Lajoie glances at the clock and catches me noticing. “Oh excuse me,” she smiles. “I’m always keeping track of the time to make sure that I am not missing anything. You have to keep a schedule when you are a busy person, and it must include workouts.” Mrs. Lajoie has had her fair share of personal trauma, but she has been able to take control of her life, and now lives the life the many women only dream of. “What we women need to remember is that we are important and we have lots to give. We must take care of ourselves, not only for our sake, but so that we might be able to take care of our families.

Before undertaking a meal replacement program, you should ask some simple but very important questions. Protect your health and your pocketbook by asking the following five questions:

1. How effective is the program? The first thing you’ll want to know is whether the program you’re considering actually works. After all, your goal in starting a meal replacement program is to lose weight. Avoid programs that can’t prove their effectiveness or provide little in the way of real guidance and support. If the program can’t provide examples of successful clients, consider looking elsewhere.

2. What kind of professional supervision is provided? Meal replacement programs should always be undertaken while under proper medical supervision. Emotional support and medical evaluation are both critical to any weight loss program, particularly a meal replacement program. Because you are spending your time and money in a program, the program should offer you in return the professional guidance you need to be successful at reaching your goals.

3. What kind of ongoing maintenance support do you offer? Losing the weight is only the first step. It is the very beginning of a lifelong change in lifestyle and dietary habits. You will need support to stay on track once you’ve reached your goal weight. Choose programs that help keep you motivated and connected with follow up support, and offer options for intervention should you start to regain weight.

4. How much does it cost? The important point of this question is not that you should try to skimp out and choose the “cheapest” program, but you should choose a program that gives you your money’s worth. You could end up paying thousands of dollars for food, enrollment fees, and other hidden fees for a regimen that is poorly designed that doesn’t work. Furthermore, it may offer no training or support. However, a program that is less expensive could be highly effective. All in all, choose the best program that fits with your budget.

5. Are there hidden costs, and do you provide refunds? A weight loss program that offers a money back guarantee is the true mark of a confident program. A program that has confidence in its product and the competence of its support staff will always give you your money back if you aren’t satisfied with the results. Reputable programs will be upfront with you regarding costs and what you will ultimately end up paying.

When you consider each of these factors, Medifast stands out from all the rest. Medifast offers a proven and effective program backed by solid medical support. They can help connect you with a physician familiar with the Medifast plan, and the cost of the program is reasonable – even less than what a single person typically spends each month on groceries. Unopened, unused products can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Coaching and support is offered online and in person at Medifast centers across the country. Like countless others, discover how Medifast can help you lose weight and keep it off.

Nobody likes the word ‘diet’. It brings to mind scrimping and going without all the things you love. It’s especially difficult to reinforce your will power after the holiday season.

But it’s not all bad. There really are plenty of ways to lose pounds quickly without having to go without and it’s much easier than you think – once you know how. You can start the New Year with some great weight loss results with these easy tips.

Here are the top nine tips to lose pounds in 2009.

1. Water Many people do not drink water at all, and yet it is the best way to naturally clean out your body and simultaneously shed pounds. Drinking enough water is so easy. Just drink a glass of water before every meal and snack and you will feel rehydrated and fuller so you will be less tempted to over-eat at mealtimes.

2. Fiber Fiber is a brilliant weight-loss secret that can help you lose weight at the same time as making you feel full. You can actually reduce your hunger pangs by eating enough fiber in your diet. Simple foods like fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and beans will increase your fiber intake, make you feel full faster and help you lose weight quicker.

3. Snacks Staying slim does not require starving yourself. You should definitely snack throughout the day in between meals. Your metabolism will increase by snacking, helping your weight loss. Be careful however of what snacks you choose to eat; remember they should be healthy snacks. It’s definitely okay to eat nuts, fruit, and even a snack size tub of yogurt or baked rice crispies. Moreover, just be smart about your snack choices.

4. Walk Take every opportunity to walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park further away from the store and walk the rest of the way. Stroll around the block with your dog or with a friend. Switch on your stereo and just wiggle to the music.

5. Grill it up Switch from frying foods to grilling them, order grilled when you go out to eat. Grilling is easier than and just as tasty as frying. It’s healthier and has fewer calories than fried foods.

6. Side Dishes We as a society are conditioned to believe that a meal is not complete without a side of French fries. Try replacing fries with a salad or with steamed vegetables for a healthier option.

7. Processed Foods Pre-packaged deli ham, chicken and turkey are quick and easy to have available in the fridge, but they have high levels of sodium. Sodium makes your body retain fluid and makes it harder for you to lose weight. Don’t buy pre-packaged processed foods whenever possible. Opt for fresh options.

8. Keep It Lean Red meat and poultry are not off limits; just remember to buy the leanest cuts available. Trim off excess fat and cut off the skin from chicken. Grill your meat to keep the goodness in and minimize the amounts of fat.

9. Meal Replacement Meal replacement diets can be a very handy way to shed pounds quickly. Simply replace your normal lunches with a great replacement shake so you’re still getting all the nutrients you need without all the calories to go with it.

Keep up with these simple tips and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to lose weight quickly.

We’ve all heard the old adage as it relates to weight loss. Eat less and exercise more is a simple solution to an all too common problem today. Everyone appears to be looking for the shortcut. The question is not, “how can I maintain a healthy lifestyle”, rather it is how can I do what I want to do and then find a colon cleansing product to purify me from the poison I put into my body. Colon cleansers can be a great tool however they should not be thought of as a quick fix to help you loose those last few pounds.

At this moment, many of the statistics say that you probably have between 4 and 9 pounds of fecal matter attached to the walls of your colon. The side affects of this can be as simple as constant constipation, gas, indigestion and maybe even acid reflux disease. The reality is that if you are faced with most if not all of these symptoms, perhaps the time has come for a complete cleanse. Many of the best cleanses to use are the natural products that are specially prepared to cleanse the colon and detoxify your liver. They key is that you should feel better after a more alert and refreshed after a colon cleanse and not the reverse.

It’s when people decide to use colon cleansers as a weight loss tool that things become “ugly.” First of all, if you have a lot of weight to lose, then colon cleansing is not your answer. An initial cleanse will only result in about 4-8 pounds lost. After that, you will simply be eliminating everything you eat, nutrients and all. This is not healthy. Using an herbal remedy for colon cleansing, you could jump-start your weight loss journey with a clean colon. Maintaining a healthy diet after cleaning out your colon would be a safer choice.

There a number of different types of colon cleansers. Liquid cleansers, which require you to eat nothing, and pills that are consumed in conjunction with a diet high in fiber and raw foods such as fruits and vegetables are the most common types. Colon cleansing is not a quick one-time solution for weight loss. For a colon cleanser to have the most optimum effect, one still has to change their diet and lifestyle. Otherwise, the weight is going to keep coming back.

Think of your body as a sponge. When using that sponge in the course of a day, it can get really dirty and dingy. Now what happens when you run water over the sponge in an effort to rinse it out? The debris and dirt fall away from the sponge down the drain. If you squeeze the sponge, even more of the residue is released. Well, the same is true of our bodies. Yes, a colon cleanse may cause insignificant weight loss but think about the lasting benefits of having all of the gunk out of you.

So in an effort to respond to the question, are colon cleansers safe, yes most of them are safe however they can be harmful if not properly followed and supervised under a doctor’s care. On the other hand, if you are simply trying a colon cleanse simply to lose weight then you are under a false impression and are taking a colon cleanser for the wrong reason. It would be in your best interest to identify a proven diet program and follow it to the letter versus following some claim made on late night television.